Gibsonville votes to amend sign ordinance

Published: Monday, July 7, 2014 at 10:00 PM.

GIBSONVILLE – The Gibsonville Board of Aldermen made a variety of changes to its ordinances after three public hearings Monday night.

With no one speaking in favor or against during the first public hearing, the board unanimously approved to lower the number of days notice for abating a nuisance. Before the amendment, property owners had 15 days to abate a nuisance, like overgrown lawns, after they received a notice from the town. Under the new ordinance, property owners will have 10 days.

The board also voted to amend its sign ordinance. The former ordinance only allowed one wall sign per building, per street frontage, and the newly changed ordinance allows for one sign to be “located on both sides of a two-story building that adjoins to a one-story building.” The change would only potentially impact two businesses, according to Gibsonville Town Manager Ben Baxley.

Bennie Leach, owner of the two-story furniture store Sherry’s on Main, said he was prohibited from placing a second sign on the second story of his building. A recipient of the town’s Downtown Façade Improvement Grant, Leach has made improvements to the front of his building and would like to add a second sign that matches the storefront.

“The façade program is meant to enhance the appearance of businesses downtown,” he said. “To bring it more life. I believe this change will increase the viability of our business.”

Gibsonville Mayor Pro Tem Mark Shepherd said he wasn’t in favor of changing the town’s ordinance only to help a few businesses and made a motion to deny the change. The motion failed to secure a second and it died. The motion ultimately passed in a 3-to-1 vote.

The board unanimously amended the Joseph’s Claim Subdivision and allowed for two lots to have shorter front setback. Town leaders also appointed Shirley Heater, Elaine Nelson and Anthony Vicinanza to the Gibsonville Planning Board.

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GIBSONVILLE – The Gibsonville Board of Aldermen made a variety of changes to its ordinances after three public hearings Monday night.

With no one speaking in favor or against during the first public hearing, the board unanimously approved to lower the number of days notice for abating a nuisance. Before the amendment, property owners had 15 days to abate a nuisance, like overgrown lawns, after they received a notice from the town. Under the new ordinance, property owners will have 10 days.

The board also voted to amend its sign ordinance. The former ordinance only allowed one wall sign per building, per street frontage, and the newly changed ordinance allows for one sign to be “located on both sides of a two-story building that adjoins to a one-story building.” The change would only potentially impact two businesses, according to Gibsonville Town Manager Ben Baxley.

Bennie Leach, owner of the two-story furniture store Sherry’s on Main, said he was prohibited from placing a second sign on the second story of his building. A recipient of the town’s Downtown Façade Improvement Grant, Leach has made improvements to the front of his building and would like to add a second sign that matches the storefront.

“The façade program is meant to enhance the appearance of businesses downtown,” he said. “To bring it more life. I believe this change will increase the viability of our business.”

Gibsonville Mayor Pro Tem Mark Shepherd said he wasn’t in favor of changing the town’s ordinance only to help a few businesses and made a motion to deny the change. The motion failed to secure a second and it died. The motion ultimately passed in a 3-to-1 vote.

The board unanimously amended the Joseph’s Claim Subdivision and allowed for two lots to have shorter front setback. Town leaders also appointed Shirley Heater, Elaine Nelson and Anthony Vicinanza to the Gibsonville Planning Board.